SALE on TEACHER NOTEBOOK

BIG SALE this weekend on TEACHER NOTEBOOK.

My shop is up to 20% off plus an additional 10% at checkout!

Plus you can enter to win the Sweepstakes drawing.

Happy shopping everyone!

Sight WORD Practice Packets

So happy they are FINALLY finished and up loaded to my shops!!!

This is a great resource for practicing sight words. Activities include tracing, writing, building, finding, coloring, and reading sentences for each word.

They are practice sheets for the 100 Fry's Word List. They are divided into 4 packets of 25 words each or the MEGA pack with all 100 words. Each packet also comes with a fun spinner game that also has a homework version. There is also an assessment and tracking card.

I have spent the last 4 months testing, revising, and adding to these sight word packets. I've been using them with my firsties and they LOVE them. I've used them whole class, small group, and individually. I've really seen some great progress with sight words.

Here's some suggested ideas for use.

When I started this packet, I researched the difference between the Dolch and Fry lists. I found that the Dolch was created in the early 1900's and is made up of 220 basic sight words. It has not been revised for decades. Fry's list was created as an updated list based on the changes in language and is made up of 1000 of the most commonly used words in the English language. It is ordered by frequency so all of the Dolch words are embedded in Fry's list. That's why I chose to use Fry's list for my packet instead of Dolch. There is very little difference but Fry's list contains Dolch's and more. Whatever list you use, I hope you'll find my packets useful and helpful.

If you go to my shops and click on the preview there is a sample you can download to use.

All the packets are on sale until Friday over on TpT!

Happy Teaching!!!

Are you a 'Pooper' 'Pointer' or 'Scooper'?

I LOVE this book!

It is a true story about a dog that does his 'business' on a soccer field and his owner fails to clean up after him. So the teams have to play around a pile of dog poop. Everyone from parents, to referees, to coaches, to players point out the poop and advise all to stay away. But no one takes the initiative to just clean it up. Author Kirk Weisler does a great job explaining about the poopers (problem causers), pointers (tattlers, do-nothings) and scoopers (fixers, problem solvers) in this world.
Which one are you?
I've got to admit that at times I've probably been a little bit of a pooper and a pointer. But this book inspires me to try a little harder to be a scooper!

I was first introduced to this book several years ago at our first faculty meeting of the year. I had a wonderful principal, Jeanne Bates, who read this book to us and then presented each of us with our own book and a little plastic piece of fake doggy poo. She challenged us to put our fake doggy doo-doo on a shelf and let it remind us daily "Which one are you?"

Our school's character trait word for the month is INITIATIVE. That's a pretty hard word to explain to first graders. So I read them this book. They loved it! At first, we had lots of giggles every time I read the word poop but they got over it. We had a great discussion after about taking initiative but it also turned into a discussion on tattling. I loved how they were able to see that the 'pointers' are not taking initiative to help solve the problems but are just adding to it. I've seen a difference in the tattling and lots of kiddos are jumping in to help each other.
 I love it when a book inspires kids!

Click on the book below for a link to Amazon.com


Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by!

2 Digit Addition Algorithm or Not?

I'm a little depressed today because my spring break is OVER and it's starting to get cold again outside. It's been gorgeous ALL week so I guess if we have to be back in school then it can get stormy again.

On Monday, I'm going to dive right into teaching 2 digit addition. Our 'Go Math' book has us teaching it by adding tens (with no regrouping). Then we add on the hundreds chart (the problems would have regrouping if you're not using the hundreds chart) and finally with place value (tens and ones no regrouping). It never discusses the algorithm of regrouping (carrying).

I love how in depth we go with the base ten blocks, and hundreds chart. The kiddos really need to know the WHY of it. I'm thinking maybe the reason the book doesn't teach it is because they want the students to really learn the WHY before concentrating on the HOW (the algorithm). 

Last year I knew this concept was coming up on the new core so I spent a few days on it. Several of my firsties picked up on the regrouping with the algorithm without me showing them.

Sooooo do I show ALL of them the algorithm or not in first grade? I'm curious as to what you all do?

To add a little FUN to my week, I put together a little mini packet for 2 digit addition. It has 4 extra practice sheets, a game (my kids are going to LOVE), and a scoot activity.

You can check it out at my shops!

I'd LOVE to hear your comments on teaching the algorithm or not in first grade.

Have a terrific weekend!

Morning Math Review FREEBIE

Ahhhh!

 I don't think there is anything better than a teacher on spring break!

I'm loving my vacation. This year we decided to take a little trip down south to St. George on the weekend to enjoy a little sunshine. Then I'm just resting and relaxing at home by myself for the entire week while my hubby works. Is this what retirement is like? Humm!

I've finally been able to get some work done on some packets I've had waiting in the wings.

I've been using this with my class for the last 2 years and finally got it posted this morning on my shops.

It's a great little review packet just for the 1st grade math core. There are 39 practice sheets, one for each week of school. It starts out on an easy kindergarten level and then gets more difficult as the year progresses. I use them for a self-start every Monday but they are also great for homework or centers. It's a great way to see if students are getting the concepts your teaching so you could use them for assessing too. You don't need to go in order, you can skip around if you like.

Very EASY prep, just print and use.

If you click HERE you can download this FREE sample.

You can get the same free sample if you download the PREVIEW on TpT.

Well, I'm debating whether to stay in my jammies all day and curl up with a new book. I've already finished 2 since Friday. 

Did I mention how much I'm lovin' spring break!

Hope you have a wonderful spring break whenever yours is!

Spring Cleaning SALE!

It's time to clean out your wish lists and buy what you need to finish the school year.

I'm joining the Spring Cleaning SALE over on TpT!

My entire shop is 15% off for FOUR whole days!

Now is the time to get some of my top selling packets on sale!

Happy SHOPPING!

Drums Alive and FREEBIE St Patrick's Day Read the Room

Have you ever heard of DRUMS ALIVE?

I hadn't until this year.

Our PE teacher attended a workshop last fall and then wrote a grant to get all the equipment. Then she started doing it with the kids this year.

We had a teacher Inservice and learned all about it this week. 

And low and behold I found out my grandkids are doing it at their school. This video was taken at their school last year.

It was SO fun!! We got to do some of it as teachers. It's a great way to exercise but I LOVE the math and music.

I taught place value this week so I tried it out. You can do it on the balls or just let them clap and pat their legs. I gave them a number like 75. Then I'd say ready, set, go. They would pat their legs 7 times for the tens, then clap their hands 5 times for the ones. It was so fun. You could really tell the ones who knew their place value and the ones who didn't.
If you're interested in the program just Google Drums Alive or Academic Beats. There are tons of YouTube videos too because it is world wide.

I also have a FREEBIE for you. I'm a little late. It's for St. Patrick's Day which is Monday. It's a read and write the room.

Click HERE for a FREE download.

ENJOY!